22 December 2009

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are enjoying the festive season.I love it. Beeing so busy lately with work, orders, presents making for family and friends, so I have much to update you with!!!

I have been to Italy last week. We didn't have much time but we really did make the most of it.It was so nice to see all my family and old dear friends. I loved visiting italian towns all nicely christmassy decorated with Christmas lights, displays, markets and attractions.

Also we went by train, not plain! I have to say... it was AMAZING!!!so so cool. Travelling in the night in the Italian train from Paris Bercy to Venice was one of the most exciting things ever. I didn't want to sleep, but look out all night to see the mountains. At the end, how ever i did fall asleep at some point as this picture shows.

...And I slept so well. The train rocks you to sleep. It reminded me of night journeys (better called- adventures) on my parents campavan when I was little!!!It was getting on the train that it has been a bit of a worry. Our Eurostar from London was 2 hours late so this only left us with an hour and a half to get from Paris North to Paris Bercy. Which is a problem when the whole town has a metrò strike and is relying on taxis...! We waited an hour and forty minuted in a line for a taxi, and when we finally got in, the driver says that the journey would take us 25 minutes!! What? we didn't have 25 minutes!!! plaese Archangel Micheal help me! I keep praying Micheal and Mary and ask for a miracle. The traffic was very solid and the surfice iced. We arrived at 8.33pm, three minutes late. I ran to the plattaform to try to stop the train, while Jason was paying the taxi and crabbing our heavy lugange full of presents and my dad's new mac laptop ( a very huge responsability!)I ran to the train and found our carriage, in such an emotional state that I was almost crying between happyness / tireness and a build up of fear. I found the guard and told hime to plase wait one minute so that Jason could come to the train too. And he sayd:" Tranquilla tranquilla c'è tempo...""Which means don't worry there is pleanty of time"!!! (althought we were late!)I was so amazed and happy. When I think about it...I still don't know how we managed to get on the train. I think it was a miracle!!!

One of our first stop was of course, Castelfranco Veneto, my hometown. This is my brother and I in the town centre.

It was very very cold but we had some mulled wine to warm us up!

We went to lunch at my Grandmas, who was so very happy to see us all!Then in the evening we had aperitives with my cool auntie Tati. She is so amazing, really really gets youngsters like us! We always have the best time with her.

Then we went to Cividale with my borther and tow of his friends. It was very nice, the town centre and the food is amazing... this si a picture of me at the Cividale river. The water is so clear and the sand so white....

Then we went to Bassano del Grappa, to visit my dear friend Martina and her boyfriend.We got there early so we could do a little bit of browising around and about...We went to the carosel which I have neer been before!

cool.

We also went to the lights and bells shop at the end of the bridge and got 2 cute bells to put in our future cottage. But for now we are still enjoing them as they are haging on our wide windows... (will be posting pictures of them at some point. Keep your eyes open and look out for them - I want to know what you think!)

We visited the town around until the cold was too much for all of us. So we ended up in an amazing local Spa relaxing in the hot sauna and giacuzzi!!! So funny. Also, as my friend Martina goes there quite often, we got a discount on the entry!

Then we went to a pizzeria about 10 o'clock at night, but we were not sure if we would be able to eat dinner as it was so late... But we did and the pizza was one of the best I ever ate! (I still like yours best MUM ♥ ) It was called Biancaneve, and it has Buffalo mozzarella, cream and bits of ham. No tomato, no spices. just a simple white pizza. Adorable...

The rest of the time we watched my mum baking biscuits and bread, getting all ready for Christmas!

Our journey back was very magical and stunning. It was snowing all the way from Milan to Paris and it was like beeing in the Polar Express!!!The guard in this train was also lovely, in the morning it gave us tea and fresh cornetti brioche and orange juice. It also gave us a map of Paris and gave us directions of how to get to Paris North via public transports. Unfortunately, that day there was also a strike!!!

(On this note - can I share I thought?! I really think that people that are not happy about their work situation should change job rather then sit there and complain about their work situation and expect their leaders to take a decision for them. I have been in many stikes in Italy with the studient organization to support workers that were layd off work, and from my experience, I have come to the conclusion that strikes really do not help. Sadly, governaments and corporation don't care about the individuals and will never change their greedy ways. If you are treated unfair, do not stay in that job! )

So we could not take the metro and we had to take another taxi. The taxi men asked us whee we were directed and when we sayd Lndon via Eurostar he told us about the problems in the eurosta channe tunnel! We could not belive it. Stuck in Paris again?! When we got to Paris North it was absolute chaos. We learned that train were not running for at least 2 days and we decided to get out of there as quick as possible!!! The only problem was... HOW? Plains were not flying, Ferries were not leaving, trins were all cancelled. Luckely, my brave boyfriend is a great geographer and knew just what to do. I got a map of France from the station book store. then found the name of other ports that ran ferries to England. Then, called his sister Vicki and Mum Angie and got them looking and booking at the last available tickets form Le Havre. 2 tickets left!!! and only 4 hours to get there... oh my God! Another challange! We found a train to Le Havre, except this was also from another station, reachable only via taxi...again!!! jumped on the taxi, then crabbed some very expesive tickets at the ticket office (there was a massive queue but luckely these two very kind souls lets us go at the front and so we just managed to get on the train just in time. Bless them!)

We finnally made it to the post and the ferrie, and after all we had an amazing 4 hours journey. Althought we were so tired, we had this view:

beautiful ...

So we managed to get to Frosty England and then at home late that night in our cold but very cozy flat, with a record of a 30 hours journey from Castelfranco to Dorking...

In the mornig I was all wrapped up ready to go to work, and by Sunday evening I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open!

Now my dear darling I have to go to sleep, really...Please forgive any spelling mistake, I'm so so tired! (And also, not very good in english.)Lots of love and Christmas wishes,

02 December 2009

Hello my darlings!How are you? I hope wonderful. I'm sitting buy the fire, watching Back to the FutureI ! I love it! It reminds me of my childhood so much! I also found the most romantic song of all time:

The Penguins - Earth Angel (will you be mine) - 1954Which is the song scoring the the High School Ball Dance scene in Back to the Future!Isn't it just SO cute? I could listen to it for ages!!!

Right... back to illustration and shop...I have this cutie in the shop now:

01 December 2009

Hello my darlings! How are you?I hope the sun is shining for you today. I have a beautiful surprise...Remember this cutie?

Is Raining Love, watercolor by Giulia Mauri

Well... it's now in the shop as I anticipated a couple of weeks ego!

Yes. Is raining love has taken the shape of this cute Thank you card. Althought I am planning to do also a set of writing sets as well! All matching of course!

I'm totally in love with the back of the card as well:, it's so sweet. I have already given a few away myself to thank my family and friends for the lovely Birthday presents, and they all loved it!

Yesterday I went to town especially to visit the new age store Mystery Mountain which I only recently found out about. It's a lovely place to go, lots of things to see and get inspired...

I bought some love tea by pukka, (delicious!) and this gorgeous scented candle made with organic plant wax, which is now sitting on my table, and smell amazing even if I have not burned it yet!

I bought two totem stones handpainted by native Americans, one for me with the dolphin for guidance and one for Jason with the ram for strength. They are the sweetest little thing, small and perfect to carry around in my packet at all times.

But most importantly, I bought the most amazing crystal in the whole wide world:

It's a giant minaral! Absolutely amazing... and so so sparkly, pretty and powerful!

I washed it with cold water as soon as I got home and put it in front of the fireplace to charge it with energy.

Now is all happy sitting by the window in sun light...I love it, I love it, I love it!

More letter sets and cards are coming soon into the shop, so please visit often and subscribe to twitter so you won't miss all the shop updates!